What do you suspect is wrong?

Looking at the last two pictures, something seems amiss to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
What do you suspect is wrong?

On first glance it was the lack of any rear sight...

On second it was the pushfeed bolt.

quote:

Originally posted by TwoZero:

On second it was the pushfeed bolt.

Of course, the box says "Mauser"...

The late model Browning Safari's had what they referred to as a Mauser Supreme action (push feed). Was never really sure why they made the transition??? Any 60's era gun will have a long extractor and some late 60's guns will have salt wood stocks.
I believe my 458 Browning Safari is a 1964 gun.
Find a good one and they are a fine rifle!

EZ

Pushfeed and it sure seems to be a salt wood gun from the appearance of that crossbolt.

quote:

I believe my 458 Browning Safari is a 1964 gun.
Find a good one and they are a fine rifle!

eezridr - congrats on owning a fine gun. Mine is a '64 Browning Safari in 458 as well. Picked it up from the son of a man who intended to use it on an Alaskan bear hunt and never went. The gun shoots like a champion and feels great. Browning introduced salt would stocks in '66 - both for short and long action guns, so be wary of that period up until '72 I believe. Other than that - they are fine guns.

Push-feed Mauser? I had thought you had to wait until the more-recent ones for that.

I thought either the photo or the box were wrong.

Nothing really out of place to me. That being said, remembering back to my Belgian Browning collector days, it's a 1970 gun which was about the peak of the salt wood issues. Looks like the gun has not had a very sheltered life.

I also have a 1964 vintage .458 and my stock shows hard use, but, the metal and bore are pristine. I have a Duane Weibe dropmag, Wisner front banded ramp and a Satterlee safety and am going to buy an appropriate synthetic stock and then have it cut to 23", assembled and that should be one FINE DGR, especially with lighter bullets here in BC Grizzly country.

Any suggestions on synthetic stock blanks for dropmags?

The Browning Safari rifle in question is one of the older FN rifles made for Browning in Belgium back in the mid-1960's.

The rear sight is missing off the rifle and not sure if that is one of the "salt-wood" stocks used, that got FN & Browning into hot water back in those years.

The price on that rifle the way it is, is far to high!

I hate to show my ignorance but what is a salt wood stock?

At one time, someone got the idea of using salt to draw moisture out of wood to cure the stocks faster. Had kind of a negative effect on the barreled actions.

Here's an article about it.

I guess I have a problem calling a push feed, plunger ejected action a "Mauser" but that is apparently just an exhibition of my ignorance. That was what caught my eye when I saw the listing.

He does say there is some pitting below the stock line...

Sako built a lot of the Browning Safari rifles. I know many of the .375 rifles were push-feed and they were accurate rifles. I don't think they should be called "Mauser Actioned" as they aren't but they are still Browning Safaris.

Thank you Charles.

On the surface that doesn't seem like a good idea.

beech stock? busted and repaired? 2x too much

Push feed, poor condition and salt wood. Sounds like a DG rifle to stay away from, no matter what the cost is.

465H&H

How do you determine what year a Belgium Browning was manufatured? Is there a serial number/year of production list available? Does someone here have that information? Thanks in advance.

Iceman

There is a web page where you can access many of the browning firearms history including date of Mfg, however the Browning Safari Grades are not listed. They suggest calling Browning customer service for additional info. I believe that is what I did years ago. That # is 800-333-3288 or 801-876-2711.

EZ

quote:

Originally posted by Iceman:
How do you determine what year a Belgium Browning was manufatured? Is there a serial number/year of production list available? Does someone here have that information? Thanks in advance.

Iceman

The gun is correct. Thats the ONLY gun that has ever actually bloodied my shoulder after I had fired it 3 times. I was wearing a T shirt & blood was coming through it. no skin was broken but blood was coming to the surface like sweat does.

You can also call up Browning Repair Works in the town of Arnold, Missouri. They will give you all the help you need.....great people to deal with you bet.